Can ginseng and acupuncture help ease lung cancer–related fatigue? Read the research and learn why you may want to give these methods a try.

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Weakness and exhaustion are common side effects of lung cancer. While up to 96 percent of people with cancer complain of fatigue, lung cancer patients tend to experience higher levels of tiredness than those suffering from other types of cancer.

Doctors can recommend a number of ways to reduce fatigue during lung cancer treatment, including medications, treatment of anemia, exercise, behavior therapy, and rest.

But as more people take interest in complementary and alternative medicine, researchers are looking into natural ways to treat cancer-related fatigue, including yoga, acupuncture, and herbal supplements.

Lung Cancer: Ginseng and Fatigue

Ginseng is a perennial herb that has been used for centuries in complementary and alternative medicine. It has long been credited with increasing people's sense of well-being and stamina, and improving the way they perform, both mentally and physically.

A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that ginseng helped alleviate symptoms in people with a history of cancer-related fatigue. For the study, 282 people were randomly assigned to receive various doses of ginseng or a placebo. After eight weeks, people who were taking higher doses of ginseng showed greater improvements in energy level and physical well-being than those taking a placebo or lower doses of ginseng. The ginseng used in this study was American ginseng, and doses of 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams taken twice daily were shown to be help reduce fatigue.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, oral ginseng is generally well-tolerated for up to three months. The most common side effects associated with ginseng are headaches, sleep disturbances, and gastrointestinal problems. Ginseng has also been associated with reports of allergic reactions, breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities, high blood pressure, and low blood sugar.

You may hear or read about other vitamins or herbal supplements that are touted to help with cancer-related fatigue. But remember that the evidence supporting a benefit of ginseng and other herbs or vitamins for cancer-related fatigue is still preliminary.

If you are considering taking ginseng or any other supplement, it is important to discuss it with your doctor. Many supplements can cause adverse or potentially life-threatening side effects, and can interfere with the effectiveness of your lung cancer treatment.

Lung Cancer: Acupuncture and Yoga

In recent years, researchers from the American Academy of Chest Physicians concluded that acupuncture was effective in relieving the fatigue and pain associated with lung cancer.

While not directly related to lung cancer, other research has found that yoga helps lymphoma patients sleep better. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the National Cancer Institute conducted a study on how Tibetan yoga could affect sleep and fatigue in woman with breast cancer.

More and more research points to the positive role alternative and complementary medicine can play as part of an overall cancer treatment and recovery plan. Talk to your doctor about new findings to learn if these or other therapies are worth a try.

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